A state judge on Tuesday issued a ruling that will block about half of a controversial expansion plan by New York University, The New York Timesreported. The judge ruled that New York City lacked the legal authority to turn over three parks to NYU for the projects, and that such a deal required the approval of the New York Legislature. NYU has not said if it will appeal, but said that the ruling did not affect the largest part of the building project, a tower that could be as high as 26 stories. But critics of the plan said that the ruling essentially meant that the university has to restart the entire project approval process, since earlier approval was for a full plan, not just that tower.